Sheet-feeder for printing-presses.



F W. sAu m SHEET FEEDEB FQR PRINTING PRESSES.

APPUCATION HLED JULY 5,1917.

. Patented. Apr. 30,1918.

F. W. SAUER.

SHEET FEEDER FGR PRINTING PRE'SSES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 5.1911.

Patented Apr. 30,1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

F. W. SAUER.

SHEET FEEDER FOR PRINTING PRESSES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 5.19:1.

Patented Apr. 30, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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e anates of tenement. ri-treatedApr-sen; rare.

Application filedJuly 5,1917. Serial noqivaeae.

ing thetop she'eti'ronr the balance of the pile preparatory to the advancing movement. The llltBI'ltlOlllllOlUClBS a pneumatic separator having a compound rocking and sliding movement constructed to turn up and liitthe-rear edgefof the sheet; and a mechanical detent which operates inalternation with the separator to engagewand hold the next top sheet beneath the lifted edge. The various novel features vofconstruction,

relation and operation will' appear as the specificationproceeds. i

a In the accompanying drawings: 7 Figure 1 is "a side elevaticihbtfithe coordinated instrumentalities over the -rear portionfot the stack together with their; sup porting means and operating connections.

The supporting bar is shown broken aw 'for economy of spacegmt-hestack of sheets is jrepresentedabythe rear-1,portion only of a 'few of thetop :sheets; "the separatorfls edge of thektop sheet -preparat:ory toelijfti ng it; and thedetent is in iits retired a-pos tion. Fig. :2 isa .view onr'aglarger scale 'aiid largely in verticaL sectionzshowinggthevsepw 3-3 of mg. 11, indicatingdriving nieans for, operating the" coodinated "devices; I

, Fig. tis a face view of "the mout-hpiece of the separator with, thei'wbairel wherein it is mounted in section; i l l i i Fig; 5 is a top wpers oective viewer: the nniut-hpieceg "the separator; a rear" elevation otthefimechawf 1? 1g. *6 isai-perspectivei view-*ofvtheaocking .eonstrncted..hasa sliding tampon" Fig, ,8 is 'a transverse section on the line 8 8 of 2; and i -Fig. ,9is asimplifiedview, on a reduced scale, illustrating the relations. a a

In the frameQ: (Fig; 9) is a suitable: table 3 or support for the stack of ,sheets'et.

table, ,it will 'be understood, isrprovided with means, as is customary, forraising itas'the sheets are fed, to maintain a substantially constant top level. 'Over lthe frontier the stackis located the means 4 for advancing the successive, sheets, such means is designated generally 5 and may QGQof the character disclosed in 'Patent 1,105,352 or July 28,1914,

Extending transversely between the side members of themain frame 2, at mists-nee above the stack, a are '5 forward and rearward rods Sand/7. Upon these-'arei'mounted a supporting superstructure for the ,separator 'detent mechanism. Preferably said superstructure comprises a, :central longitudinal bar 8, which is pivotaHy mounted at its forward end upon the rod 6 and has an up'and down adjusting con nection at the rear with the rod 7. 'Inthe particular construction shownaU bracket 9 is securedyto the top ofthebarfi, atits rear end, to receive a screw 10, which is threaded downward throu its top: and has, pivotal swivel connection at its, lower end withjthe rod 7 Said connection is-preferablyiorrned byi means of a loallli -fired;

to the lower end of the "screw; andacapable ofiturning in a corresponding,socketyiin the 1 rod, i wherein it i is retained by a 12. The upper end of thescrew carries an opern ating handle 13, beneath which there may;

a locknut 14k adapted to'wberscrewed down,

upon -1 the top of the bracket 9 to hold the adjustment. {lhe interior, opening, of U bracket preferably registers with aynotch in'tfhe top otthe bar ,8, the two together constituting an eloirgated clearancespace'ld capable fof' accommodating the cross rod 71 withincasubstantial range ofvertical ad justme'nt. 1 I c a H Uponthe bar 8, somewhat in adyance its rear end; is-asuppdrtingfblock 16,, which may ;be-:- 1ade;-in-two vertical halves, receive iii-g the i bar; between 1 their upper portions, which are itablyyrecessedtor th and 1:;trnited; y--screw,s;17.; Thef bl ck ing socket 23, whichreceives the vertical stem 2% of a guide block 25, the stem being clamped in the socket by a lateral set screw 26, affording another means of vertical adjustment. The function of the guide block 25 will be described hereinafter.

The lower portion 27 of the halves of the supporting block 16 are separated laterally to form a supporting yoke wherein is mounted a rocker block 28, constituting a holder for the pneumatic separator device. A tube 29, passing through and rotatably mounted in the lower ends of the side members 27 of the yoke, constitutes the pivot for the rocker and a section of the conduit whereby the separator is connected with a region of negative air pressure (not shown). A. further section of this conduit is illustrated at 30, the same being an exterior pipe terminating in a stationary block 31, which encircles the hollow pivot 29 between one of the side members 27 and a retaining cap 32 which is secured to the end of the pivot tube by a screw 33. Y A port 34; in the side of the tube 29 atthis end is in communication with the opening through the block 31 from the conduit section 30, and is preferably of sufiicient length to remain in open communication therewith irrespective of the oscillation of the pivot. .Upon the opposite end of the pivot tube is fixed the hub of an operating arm 35, from which a link 36 extends into operative relation to a cam or eccentric 37, or other element of an external train of driving mechanism, which it is not necessary to illustrate. By means of the cam and linkage or other suitable mechanism for imparting oscillatory movement, the rocker 28 is swung back and forth through a limited range, the extremities of which are represented approximately in Figs. 1 and 2.

As more particularly illustrated in Fig. 6 the upper portion of the rocker block 28 is slotted in a vertical longitudinal plane, and at the lower end of this slot 38 is a fore and aft bore 39 having an opening 40 in its bottom leading into the transverse pivot bore 4:1, wherein the tube 29 is secured by a set screw 42. In the bore 39 is received a slidable tubular arm 43, one end of which is closed and the opposite end of which carries a transverse suction mouthpiece 44. A port 45 is cut in the lower side of the tubular arm 43 for the purpose of communicating through the opening 14.0 with a port l6 in the pivot tube 2.). It is intended that the suction through the mouthpiece shall be intermittent, which is accomplished by causing ports in relatively movable members of the suction conduit to pass into and out of communication with each other at the proper times in the cycle of operations. This is advantageously provided for by so 11 roportioning and arranging the port 45 that. it passes into and out of communication with the port 46 with the reciprocation of the tubular arm 43. Thus, in the retracted position of the arm shown in Fig. 2, the passage of air is interrupted, whereas in the projected position of F 1 the communication is open and suction exists at the mouthpiece.

The preferred embodiment of mechanism for causing the arm of the pneumatic separator to reciprocate longitudinally simultaneously with its tilting movement will now be described. A gear rack 17 is united to the top of the arm 43, between, the side portions of the rocker 28, where it is meshed by a gear wheel 48 keyed upon a shaft 4-!) which passes through transverse journal openings 50 in the said side portions. The top of the same rotary toothed member 48 meshes with another relatively stationary rack 51, which is carried by a bar 52 supported at one end in a pair of lugs 53 depending from the supporting block 19. In order to enable the rack 51 to remain in engagement with the gear 48, which moves back and forth in a curved path, the mounting for the bar 52 is so constituted as to permit of a degree of rocking or pivoting. This may be simplv accomplished by passing the rear end of the bar 52 through slightly enlarged openings 54 in the lugs 53', between which is an enlargement constituted by a pair of nuts 55 threaded upon the bar. These nuts have convex outer rocking faces and constitute a locking adjust ment means for shifting the rack a1 longitudinally. The action of gravity in keeping the rack 51 down. upon the goat -18 is supplemented by a compression spring 56 interposed between the top of the bar and the upper portion of the block 16. It will accordingly be understood that as the rocking holder 28 oscillates the gear 18 travels upon the relatively stationary rack 51 and propels the rack 47 attached to the arm 43. causing the latter to advance and retreat in the holder in the same directions in which the latter is rocked.

The mouthpiece 4 1 comprises end portions 57 having flat faces 58 with air holes 9 therein constituting laterally separated areas of an inclined suction face. Extemling be tween the end portions a hollow cylindrical. portion 60, which is held in a trans-- 'jecting' pin 66, the a point of" Verse barrel 611 united with the end of the tubular arm 4c3. nFor-convenienceof assembly the" cylindrical connectingwportion is made in two sections united with therespectiVe end portions 57 and having interlocking engagement at their proximate ends; as 'indicate'd at 62i11'=Fig. 5. A tie 'bolt163 passes lengthwise through the mouthpiece and through the outer'en-d wallsthereof, haw ing a head 6% at one end a11clamit 65 at the opposite 1 end to ui'iite the' two parts of the mouthpiece together and to hold the same against rotation in the barrel 61. or the latter' purpose one of the end portions "57 is preferably providedwith an inward pro- 11th may be engaged' with any one of a series of 'soeke-ts 67 in= the adj scent "end of 1 theqbairel. Thus by loosenir'lg the nut 65 and slightly separating the sections of the mouthpiece they may be turned in the barreland'relocked at the desired new adj'ustmmit by tightening the nut again, which brings the settions of the mouthpiece together and seats the pin 66 in the appropriate socket 67. *Asiue'port 68 in the tubular portion 60 opens into the interior of the ti'ibul'a'rarm 43, with which it remains -in-- communication irrespective of the angular adjustment *of 'the=* su'ctio1'1 fa'ce produced by turning the mouthpiece in the barrel.

From the foregoing-it willbe understood that the axis of oscillation of pneumatic separator :is' above the plane of" the top of the stack of sheets supported on the table 3; that the rocking "-hoIderQSis inclined up ward and rearward and has a limited oscillation; and thaflthe'a'rm L3 is inclined downward and rearward and partakes of the same oscillation-modified by its longitudinal movement in the holder. The; proportioning and adjustment erthe pa'rtsis in'ten ded 1101156 such that themouthpiece at,

theconblusion off its downward movenient touches, without'f imp act or substantial. pressure, 'the' top ofthe stack a short distance in front of the rear edgebf xthe top sheet; and in this position its s ctio face- 1 the plane of its ports 59 isincl'in'ed upward and rearward, seen infFig. so that the suction attheiportsturns up theirear edge "of the sheet. The holder 28 nekt "rocks forwardly that is to say toward the front end of the stack) and the separatorat the same time moves forward relatively to the holder, so that the combined inov'ement'eauses the 'il (f li has been describedg at the same timeithereds no tendency to push the; paper. forward, the edge. being "merely turned up and lifted. The turning up of therear edgeetthetop sheet: preparatory to lifting is very eitective in separating it from the sheet beneath; and upon the degree of inclinationht whichthe suction face is: presented to thefplane of the sheet depends in large measure the satisfactory action otthe apparatus. This inclination requires to be adjusted for'difli'er- (ant -grades lof paper, depending upon their 'st-i'itness or flexibility, and accordingly the provisionsheretofore described are made-for permitting the mouthpiece to be turned and held in relation to 'thebody of the separator. When the rear-edge of the top sheethas been l'ifted\suiliciently to clear he detent, which will presently be described, and to separate thesheet from the sheet below for a Substanti a1 distance lengthwise, the suction is {out oit by {the port 45 passing 'out '01 communication with the port i6 whereupon the top sheet is freed from the mouthpiece and-the advancing means 5 comesint operatioir to deliver" the sheet to the tapes (not shown).

A detent69 located in rear of the pneumatic separator andfabove and in rear of the'stack, being siip'ported and guided upon the guide b1ock 2 5. The said guide block is formed with upperand'lower jaw portions 70 and 71, separated by a substantiallyhoriz'ontal *guideslot 72. The forward end 'ofthelower jaw portion 'i'l is beveledorrounded, as seenat'il, to form downward and foiw ard sloping extension of the-lower wall "of the slot bearing '72. lathe-slot operatesa slide blocki' l hating sic'le'retaining fianges'fa engaging the side faces of the;.guide"=b1oclsi 25. 'U )ont11efm1d portions of a rod 76,-\\ hfpasses through theslids-bloek Hfiare pivoted the i ii" ds ofl side bars 77, the forwardip. o1 w will thusbe-seen thatthejearriage 1a,, comprising the slide block 7%, isxahnfine d to a slot 72 or )ri1nary"guideway, whereas the other carriage part, int-21nd? o connected to the shaft 76. lhe said raclis are held up in engagement with the gear segments by means of rollers 88 on the sides of the rocker 28, one of these rollers being indicated in F ig. 1. F or purposes of adjustment the bars are preferably made each in two sections with slotted overlapping portions connectedby clamping screws 90.

By the foregoing means the pneumatic separator and the detent are connected together to move toward and from the stack in alternation, the detent advancing'forward and downward as the mouthpiece of the separator moves upward and forward and the mouthpiece descending downward and rearward as the detent retires upward and rear ward. Both instrumentalities are timed with the advancing means 5, by connections not necessary to illustrate, so that the advancing means operates when the separator is raised and deenergized and the detent is down upon the balance of the stack, after which the advancing means ceases to operate, the detent retires, and the separator descends to lift the next sheet. As the mouthpiece in this movement approaches the surface of the sheet the port 45 again comes into open relation to the port 46 and the suction current through the mouthpiece is reestablished. The action of the separator in turning up the rear edge of the sheet and then lifting it has already been fully described and need not be repeated.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a sheet feeder having a suitable support for a stack of sheets, a pneumatic separator movably supported over the rear of the stack, and mechanism for moving the same forwardly upward and back, said separator comprising an arm extending in a longitudinal plane and carrying a transverse mouthpiece having a suction face provided with transversely-separated suction ports tilted rearward and upward in its low position so as to turn up the rear edge of the top sheet.

2. In a sheet feeder having a suitable support for a stack of sheets, a pneumatic separator movably supported over the rear of the stack, and mechanism for moving the same forwardly upward and back, said separator having a mouthpiece capable of being turned manually relatively to the balance of the movable separator in order to present its suction face at a variable rearward and upward inclination to the top sheet.

8. In-a sheet feeder having a suitable support for a stack of sheets, a reciprocated pneumatic sepa'ator over the rear of the stack having a transverse mouthpiece with separated suction ports presented at a rearward and upward inclination to the surface of the top sheet so as to turn up the rear edge thereof, the mouthpiece being movable on the separator to change the angle of such presentation according to the nature of the paper.

l. In a sheet feeder having a suitable support for a stack of sheets, a pneumatic sepa rater comprising a rocking holder, an arm mounted in the holder in the vicinity of the axis of oscillation and carrying a mouthpiece which is raised and lowered by the rocking movement, the arm being also longitudinally movable in the holder to effect a forward and rearward movement of the mouthpiece, and mechanism for simultaneously rocking the holder and longitudinally moving the arm.

5. In a sheet feeder having a suitable sup port for a stack of sheets, a pneumatic separator comprising a rocking holder, an arm longitudinally movable therein. and a mouthpiece on the arm, combined with means for rocking the holder, racks on. the arm and on a relatively stationary part, and rotary toothed means on the arm traveling on the relatively stationary rack and propelling the rack on the arm.

6. In a sheet feeder having a suitable sup port for a stack of sheets, a pneumatic separator comprising a rocking holder, an arm longitudinally movable therein and bearing a rack, a mouthpiece on the arm, a relatively stationary rack, rotary toothed means on the rocking holder meshing with both racks, a. tilting support for the relatively stationary rack, and means for holding the same in mesh with said rotary toothed means.

7. In a sheet feeder having a suitable support for a stack of sheets, a pneumatic separator comprising a rocking holder, an arm longitudinally movable therein and bearing a rack, a mouthpiece on the arm, a relatively stationary rack, rotary toothed means on the rocking holder meshing with both racks. means for tiltably supporting the relativelv stationary rack, and means for adjusting the same longitudinally.

S. In a sheet feeder having a suitable sup port for a stack of sheets, a pneumatic separater comprising a rocking holder, a ported conduit section at the pivotal axis of the holder, a hollow arm longitudinally movable in the holder and ported to communicate with the axial conduit section, a mouthpiece carried by the arm, and mechanism for rocking the holder and longitudinally moving the arm.

9. In. asheet feeder ihaving a suitable support for a stack of sheets,a pneumatic separator comprising rocking-holder, a ported conduit section at the pivotal axis of the holder, a hollow arm longitudinally movable in the holder and havinga port which is brought into and out of communication with the port in the axial conduitsection by the longitudinal movement of the armin the holder, a mouthpiece carried by the arm and mechanism for rocking the holder and longitudinally moving the arm.

10. In a sheet feeder having a suitable support for a stack of sheets, a pneumatic separator comprising a hollow swinging arm carrying at the rear a transverse barrel, and a mouthpiece formed'in separate interlocking sections and comprising two end portions having suction ports and a tubular intermediate portion in the barrel having a port to communicate with the interior of the arm. a

11. In a sheet feeder havinga suitable support for astack of sheets, a pneumatic separator comprising a hollow swinging arm carrying at the rear a transverse barrel, a mouthpiece formed in separate sections and comprising two end portions having suction ports and a tubular intermediate portion in the barrel having a port to communicate with the interior of the arm, the tubular portion being capable of being turned in the barrel to vary the angle of presentation of the suction ports, and means for locking the sections.

12. In a sheet feeder having a suitable support for a stack of sheets, a pneumatic separatorcomprising a hollow arm carrying at the rear a transverse barrel, a mouthpiece formed in separate interlocking sections and comprising two end portions having suction ports, a tubular intermediate portion in the barrel having a port to com- 7 municate with. the interior of the arm, and

means for tying the sections together and for securing them to the holder against unintended turning movement therein.

13. In a sheet feeder having a suitable support for a stack of sheets, the combina tion with a separator comprising a rocking holder supported over the rear of the stack, an arm longitudinally movable in said holder and carrying a suction mouthpiece, a rack on the arm, a relatively stationary rack, and gearing 011 the holder meshing with both racks, of a detent movably supported in rear of the separator-,and a rack bar connected with said detent and meshing witha portion of the gearing on the rocking holder.

14:. In a sheet feeder having a suitable support for a stack of sheets, the combination with a separator comprising a rocking holder supported over the rear of the stack, an arm longitudinally movable in said holder and carrying a suctionmouthpiece, a

raclo on. thearm, a relatively stationary raclqashaft journaledin the holder, 3 40311- tral gear member on the shaft meshing with both racks, and a pair of outer gearrmema bers also onthe shaft, of a guide in rear of the: separator, a detent mounted :to travel thereon, and a pair ofrackbars-.connected with the detent and meshing with said outer gear member: i

'15. In a sheet feeder having a suitable support for a stack of sheets, the combination with means for removing the rear portion of the top sheet, of a part behind and above the stack having a guideway extending forward and downward, a detent-bean ing carriage mounted to travel on the guideway, and mechanism for reciprocating the carriage thereon.

16. In a sheet feeder having a suitable support for a stack of sheets, the combination with means for removing the rear portion of the top sheet, of a detent adapted to engage the top of the balance of the stack, means for guiding the detent from a position behind and above the stack forwardly and downwardly thereon, and mechanism for reciprocating the detent.

.17. In a sheet feeder having a suitable support for a stack of sheets, the combination with means for removing the rear portion of'the top sheet, of a part behind and above the stack havinga guideway extending forward and downward, a carriage mounted to travel on the guidewayand having laterally spreading detent fingers, and

mechanism for reciprocating the carriage in its guide.

18. In a sheet feeder having a suitable support for a stack of sheets, the combination with means for removing the rear portion of the top sheet, of guide means behind and above the stack having primary and secondary guide portions, the latter sloping downward and forward, connected carriage parts guided by the respective guide portion with means for removing the rear portion of the top sheet, of a uide block behind and above the stack formed with a 1 20 slotted guideway having a downward sloping forward extension of its lower wall, a carriage having a rear part slidably confined in saidslotted guideway and a forward part adapted to ride on said sloping extension, projecting detent means on the carriage to bevbriought into contact with the top of the balance of the stack, and reciprocating means connected with the rear port1on of the carriage to operate the same.

20. In a sheet feeder having a suitable ing the carriage, and spring means for consupport for a stackuf sheets, the comb1nastmlnlng 1t to the gulde surface. tlon Wlth means for removlng the rear por- Dated, June 30th, 1917.

tion of the top sheet, of a part behind and FREDERICK W. SAUER. 5 above thestack having a downward sloping Witnesses:

guide surface, a detent-bearing carriage E. HENKEY,

movable thereon, mechanism for reciprocat- F. V. SI-IEEHAN.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. G. 

